Wednesday's letters: A fighting chance

Published: Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at 6:40 p.m.

To the editor: Perhaps the Capitol and the president should be declared gun-free zones since they seem to think this makes them safer. No more Capitol police, no more Secret Service. Now, does anyone not understand what an idiotic idea this is? How long would it take an assassin to figure out that he could kill the president or anyone else without getting hurt himself?

Please use some common sense in protecting children in schools and people anywhere. When citizens are trained to use and carry guns, they and the people around them are safer. What are your options if someone pulls a gun on you? Do you want a fighting chance or not?

If I were a criminal, I would pick the unarmed man or the unarmed home to attack. Once again, it’s only common sense!

Francie Harrill

Hendersonville

Bullied students

To the editor: Research reveals that 160,000 U.S. students stay home from school each day from fear of being bullied. Bullying affects a student’s ability to learn. Bullied students show a decline in grades and a loss of self-esteem, self-confidence and self-worth. In some cases, bullying has led to school shootings and suicide. Bullying affects witnesses as well as targets.

Bullying is a communitywide issue, mistakenly viewed as “kids being kids.” Students, parents and educators all have a role in addressing bullying situations and changing school culture.

The two keys to creating change are increasing awareness that bullying has lifelong impact, and giving people the education they need to respond effectively. More than 55 percent of bullying situations will stop when a peer intervenes. Student education on how to handle bullying is crucial, as is the support of adults.

Ignoring bullying won’t work. Bullying creates a climate of fear, impacting the lives of victims, bullies and bystanders. Everyone needs to be empowered with options to respond.

On Jan. 23 at 7 p.m., a community conversation on bullying will be presented in First Congregational Church of Hendersonville’s fellowship hall. Inform yourselves. Help make our schools a safe place to learn and succeed.

Katherine Nelson

Hendersonville

Gun ownership

To the editor: I have been reading with interest many of the op-eds with regard to different states’ proposed changes to gun ownership.

As I understand it, military-type weapons are not sporting weapons. The federal government is not proposing to take handguns or hunting rifles away nor outlawing them. The sick person who killed his mother and the 20 small children and six educators may have had a harder time “getting” such a large number of victims if he hadn’t had semi-automatic assault weapons.

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Truer words were never spoken. Shoot your paper targets, your deer or whatever. No one cares, not even President Barack Obama!

<p>To the editor: Perhaps the Capitol and the president should be declared gun-free zones since they seem to think this makes them safer. No more Capitol police, no more Secret Service. Now, does anyone not understand what an idiotic idea this is? How long would it take an assassin to figure out that he could kill the president or anyone else without getting hurt himself?</p><p>Please use some common sense in protecting children in schools and people anywhere. When citizens are trained to use and carry guns, they and the people around them are safer. What are your options if someone pulls a gun on you? Do you want a fighting chance or not?</p><p>If I were a criminal, I would pick the unarmed man or the unarmed home to attack. Once again, it’s only common sense!</p><p><em>Francie Harrill</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p><h3>Bullied students</h3>
<p>To the editor: Research reveals that 160,000 U.S. students stay home from school each day from fear of being bullied. Bullying affects a student’s ability to learn. Bullied students show a decline in grades and a loss of self-esteem, self-confidence and self-worth. In some cases, bullying has led to school shootings and suicide. Bullying affects witnesses as well as targets.</p><p>Bullying is a communitywide issue, mistakenly viewed as kids being kids. Students, parents and educators all have a role in addressing bullying situations and changing school culture.</p><p>The two keys to creating change are increasing awareness that bullying has lifelong impact, and giving people the education they need to respond effectively. More than 55 percent of bullying situations will stop when a peer intervenes. Student education on how to handle bullying is crucial, as is the support of adults.</p><p>Ignoring bullying won’t work. Bullying creates a climate of fear, impacting the lives of victims, bullies and bystanders. Everyone needs to be empowered with options to respond.</p><p>On Jan. 23 at 7 p.m., a community conversation on bullying will be presented in First Congregational Church of Hendersonville’s fellowship hall. Inform yourselves. Help make our schools a safe place to learn and succeed.</p><p><em>Katherine Nelson</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p><h3>Gun ownership</h3>
<p>To the editor: I have been reading with interest many of the op-eds with regard to different states’ proposed changes to gun ownership.</p><p>As I understand it, military-type weapons are not sporting weapons. The federal government is not proposing to take handguns or hunting rifles away nor outlawing them. The sick person who killed his mother and the 20 small children and six educators may have had a harder time getting such a large number of victims if he hadn’t had semi-automatic assault weapons.</p><p>The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Truer words were never spoken. Shoot your paper targets, your deer or whatever. No one cares, not even President Barack Obama!</p><p><em>Sandra A. Pizzuto</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p>